Murre Conservation Strategy and Action Plan

Murres are among the most numerous and widespread of Arctic seabirds, and play important roles in the food webs of Arctic marine ecosystems and in the lives of people in coastal communities.

Two species of seabirds known as murres in North America, and guillemots in Europe and Asia, the common murre/common guillemot (Uria aalge) and the thick-billed murre/Brunnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia), inhabit coastal and offshore marine regions of all northern circumpolar countires.

2. Ensure that non-consumptive use of murres is sustainable and takes place with due consideration for conservation requirements

develop and implement management plans for specific areas of current or portential eco-tourism activity

develop and publicize standard guidelines to minimize the impact of human activities such as tour-boat operations and research at murre colonies

3. Minimize the deleterious effects on murre populations and their habitats from commercial activities and industries in coastal and marine areas, such as shipping and commercial fishing

identify, publicize and minimize the impacts of commercial activities and industries on murre breeding habittas, and important areas where murres concentrate offshore

implement multi-faceted programs to reduce oil pollution in areas used by murres, and use provisions under the MARPOL Convention or IMP to establish "special areas! or "areas to be avoided" in important pelagic habitat for murres

assess and reduce mortality of murres in commercial fishing gear, in cooperation with the fishing industries and national and international managers of fisheries resources

ensure that the management of commercial harvests of small fish species used by murres as food provisions for their role in the diet of murres

4. Ensure that murre habitat identification, protection and enhancement measures are undertaken to ensure that the quality and quantity of murre habitat is maintained or restored

identify important murre breeding colonies and designate them under national and international systems of protected areas

identify important pelagic habitats for murres and promote the establishment of marine protected areas where hunting, commercial fishing and other activities that affect morres are reduced or curtailed

explore the establishment of an international network to identify and protect key breeding, foraging and over-wintering areas for murres, and the linking of protected areas used by the same population of murres in different countries

fully assess the importance of, and interactions among, human and environmetnal factors contributing to declines from an ecosystem perspective, before undertaking conservation actions

undertake specific habitat and population restoration activities to assest depressed populations to recover where limiting factors can be effectively addresses

5. Implement communications and education programs to ensure public support for protecting murre populations and their habitats

determine messages to be communicated, target groups, adn the most effective media, and produce materials to deliver specific messages to the public and special interest gropus, including key elements of murre biology and management concerns

emphasize communication of murre conservation requirements and protection guidelines to those who operate ships that may discharge oil at sea, the fishing industry, and tour-boat operators

CBird

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna

"to address the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, and to communicate its findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, helping to promote practices which ensure the sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources."